May 09, 2014

WHO warns of risk to Syrian refugees as MERS virus cases increase sharply

The World Health Organisation (WHO) will hold urgent talks next week on the often fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) virus, after a sharp increase in infections in Saudi Arabia, and the first reported case in Lebanon.

The virus has killed 164 people in the Middle East in the past two years – 126 in Saudi Arabia alone – and the number of cases in numerous countries in the region has risen in recent weeks.

There are fears that secondary infections may be rising, raising the potential for a greater global spread, and stirring memories of the Sars virus, which claimed more than 700 lives in east Asia in 2003, causing mass fear and disruption.

Mers is a coronavirus, like Sars, but is not transmitted as easily. However, more than 30% of people infected with it die, as opposed to a 10% mortality rate with Sars patients. The relatively high death rate has alarmed public health officials across the region, particularly those working with vulnerable Syrian refugee populations.

Another five deaths and 14 new infections were announced by Saudi authorities on Friday.

After a fact-finding mission to Jeddah this week, the WHO said there had been no "significant change in the tranmissibility of the virus". The organisation said most Saudi cases had occurred in healthcare centres and special screening measures and travel restrictions were not yet necessary.

Dr Adam Coutts, a public health researcher working on refugee health, said: "It is not inevitable that refugees will become infected but it is highly likely they will in places such as Jordan and Lebanon.

"It could spread very quickly, given their living conditions, poor sanitation and overcrowding. They are highly susceptible and the least able to recover."

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) will hold urgent talks next week on the often fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) virus, after a sharp increase in infections in Saudi Arabia, and the first reported case in Lebanon.

The virus has killed 164 people in the Middle East in the past two years – 126 in Saudi Arabia alone – and the number of cases in numerous countries in the region has risen in recent weeks.

There are fears that secondary infections may be rising, raising the potential for a greater global spread, and stirring memories of the Sars virus, which claimed more than 700 lives in east Asia in 2003, causing mass fear and disruption.

Mers is a coronavirus, like Sars, but is not transmitted as easily. However, more than 30% of people infected with it die, as opposed to a 10% mortality rate with Sars patients. The relatively high death rate has alarmed public health officials across the region, particularly those working with vulnerable Syrian refugee populations.

Another five deaths and 14 new infections were announced by Saudi authorities on Friday.

After a fact-finding mission to Jeddah this week, the WHO said there had been no "significant change in the tranmissibility of the virus". The organisation said most Saudi cases had occurred in healthcare centres and special screening measures and travel restrictions were not yet necessary.

Dr Adam Coutts, a public health researcher working on refugee health, said: "It is not inevitable that refugees will become infected but it is highly likely they will in places such as Jordan and Lebanon.

"It could spread very quickly, given their living conditions, poor sanitation and overcrowding. They are highly susceptible and the least able to recover."